VALDOSTA, Ga. - The Saint Leo men’s golf team concluded action at the Thomas University Winter Invitational shooting a final round 22-over 306 to close the two-round tournament with a 56-over 624, Tuesday afternoon from the Par-71, 6,936-yard Kinderlou Forest Golf Course in Valdosta, Ga.

Conditions continued to hamper play as the Lions finished ninth in the 10-team tournament. Darton Community College (301-296—597), however, did see a five stroke improvement in the second round, posting a final score of 29-over 597. Webber International (302-300—602) finished second while Southeastern University (302-309—611) closed out the top three shooting a 43-over 611.

Individually, Darton’s Taylor Welborn (72-72—144) overtook Southeastern’s Drew Matthews (72-75—147) for the medalist spot, as he fired back-to-back rounds of one-over golf. Webber’s Alexander Carpenhall (72-73—145) slipped in behind Welborn for the runner-up spot as he finished just one stroke off the lead pace at three-over 145.

As far as the Green & Gold, each of the five-member team saw vast improvements on day two. Mark Sabatino (79-77—156) carded a second round, six-over 77 to finish in 26th place at 14-over.

In addition, Ronnie Carlson and Codi Daudelin also registered 26th-place finishes. Carlson (80-76—156) rebounded from an opening round 80 to tie the team’s round-best score of five-over 76 to finish at 14-over.

Daudelin (79-77—156) also saw a two stroke advance on yesterday’s scores closing the Invite in a three way tie with Sabatino and Carlson at 14-over.

Nick Brothers and Tom Lynn also finished in the middle of the pack of the 60-person field. Brothers (80-77—157) bettered his second day by three strokes as he carded a 15-over 157.

Meanwhile, Lynn (81-76—157) matched Carlson’s five-over 77 as he saw a five stroke progression over the course of his afternoon. In total, all five Lions finished one stroke apart.

The Lions will now prepare for the Argonaut Invitational hosted by the University of West Florida. The two-day, three-round tournament is set to get underway on Monday, February 28 and will last through March 1 at the Pensacola Country Club in Pensacola, Fla.